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Kou Z, Luo X, Jiang Y, Chen B, Song Y, Wang Y, Xu J, Tomberlin JK, Huang Y. Establishment of highly efficient transgenic system for black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens). INSECT SCIENCE 2023; 30:888-900. [PMID: 36624657 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The black soldier fly (BSF), Hermetia illucens, is a promising insect for mitigating solid waste problems as its larvae are able to bioconvert organic waste into valuable biomass. We recently reported a high-quality genome assembly of the BSF; analysis of this genome sequence will further the understanding of insect biology and identify genes that can be manipulated to improve efficiency of bioconversion. To enable genetic manipulation of the BSF, we have established the first transgenic methods for this economically important insect. We cloned and identified the ubiquitous actin5C promoter (Hiactin5C-p3k) and 3 endogenous U6 promoters (HiU6:1, HiU6:2, and HiU6:3). The Hiactin5C promoter was used to drive expression of a hyperactive variant of the piggyBac transposase, which exhibited up to 6-fold improvement in transformation rate when compared to the wild-type transposase. Furthermore, we evaluated the 3 HiU6 promoters using this transgenic system. HiU6:1 and HiU6:2 promoters provided the highest knockdown efficiency with RNAi and are thus promising candidates for future Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) development. Overall, our findings provide valuable genetic engineering toolkits for basic research and genetic manipulation of the BSF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zongqing Kou
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xingyu Luo
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yuguo Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Bihui Chen
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Song
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yaohui Wang
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Xu
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Yongping Huang
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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Autofluorescent Biomolecules in Diptera: From Structure to Metabolism and Behavior. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27144458. [PMID: 35889334 PMCID: PMC9318335 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27144458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Light-based phenomena in insects have long attracted researchers’ attention. Surface color distribution patterns are commonly used for taxonomical purposes, while optically-active structures from Coleoptera cuticle or Lepidoptera wings have inspired technological applications, such as biosensors and energy accumulation devices. In Diptera, besides optically-based phenomena, biomolecules able to fluoresce can act as markers of bio-metabolic, structural and behavioral features. Resilin or chitinous compounds, with their respective blue or green-to-red autofluorescence (AF), are commonly related to biomechanical and structural properties, helpful to clarify the mechanisms underlying substrate adhesion of ectoparasites’ leg appendages, or the antennal abilities in tuning sound detection. Metarhodopsin, a red fluorescing photoproduct of rhodopsin, allows to investigate visual mechanisms, whereas NAD(P)H and flavins, commonly relatable to energy metabolism, favor the investigation of sperm vitality. Lipofuscins are AF biomarkers of aging, as well as pteridines, which, similarly to kynurenines, are also exploited in metabolic investigations. Beside the knowledge available in Drosophila melanogaster, a widely used model to study also human disorder and disease mechanisms, here we review optically-based studies in other dipteran species, including mosquitoes and fruit flies, discussing future perspectives for targeted studies with various practical applications, including pest and vector control.
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Strobl F, Anderl A, Stelzer EHK. A universal vector concept for a direct genotyping of transgenic organisms and a systematic creation of homozygous lines. eLife 2018; 7:e31677. [PMID: 29543587 PMCID: PMC5854464 DOI: 10.7554/elife.31677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2017] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Diploid transgenic organisms are either hemi- or homozygous. Genetic assays are, therefore, required to identify the genotype. Our AGameOfClones vector concept uses two clearly distinguishable transformation markers embedded in interweaved, but incompatible Lox site pairs. Cre-mediated recombination leads to hemizygous individuals that carry only one marker. In the following generation, heterozygous descendants are identified by the presence of both markers and produce homozygous progeny that are selected by the lack of one marker. We prove our concept in Tribolium castaneum by systematically creating multiple functional homozygous transgenic lines suitable for long-term fluorescence live imaging. Our approach saves resources and simplifies transgenic organism handling. Since the concept relies on the universal Cre-Lox system, it is expected to work in all diploid model organisms, for example, insects, zebrafish, rodents and plants. With appropriate adaptions, it can be used in knock-out assays to preselect homozygous individuals and thus minimize the number of wasted animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederic Strobl
- Physical Biology, BMLS, CEF-MCGoethe UniversitätFrankfurt am MainGermany
| | - Anita Anderl
- Physical Biology, BMLS, CEF-MCGoethe UniversitätFrankfurt am MainGermany
| | - Ernst HK Stelzer
- Physical Biology, BMLS, CEF-MCGoethe UniversitätFrankfurt am MainGermany
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Toubiana W, Khila A. The benefits of expanding studies of trait exaggeration to hemimetabolous insects and beyond morphology. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2016; 39:14-20. [PMID: 27318690 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2016.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2016] [Revised: 05/20/2016] [Accepted: 05/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Trait exaggeration, well known to naturalists and evolutionary biologists, has recently become a prominent research subject in the modern field of Evolutionary Developmental Biology. A large number of traits that can be considered as cases of exaggeration exist in nature. Yet, the field has almost exclusively focused on the study of growth-related exaggerated traits in a selection of holometabolous insects. The absence of the hemimetabola from studies of exaggeration leaves a significant gap in our understanding of the development and evolution of such traits. Here we argue that efforts to understand the mechanisms of trait exaggeration would benefit from expanding the study subjects to include other kinds of exaggeration and other model species.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Toubiana
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon, ENS de Lyon - CNRS UMR 5242 - Université Claude Bernard Lyon-1, 46 allée d'Italie, 69364 Lyon Cedex 07, France
| | - Abderrahman Khila
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon, ENS de Lyon - CNRS UMR 5242 - Université Claude Bernard Lyon-1, 46 allée d'Italie, 69364 Lyon Cedex 07, France.
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Gregory M, Alphey L, Morrison NI, Shimeld SM. Insect transformation with piggyBac: getting the number of injections just right. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2016; 25:259-271. [PMID: 27027400 PMCID: PMC4982070 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The insertion of exogenous genetic cargo into insects using transposable elements is a powerful research tool with potential applications in meeting food security and public health challenges facing humanity. piggyBac is the transposable element most commonly utilized for insect germline transformation. The described efficiency of this process is variable in the published literature, and a comprehensive review of transformation efficiency in insects is lacking. This study compared and contrasted all available published data with a comprehensive data set provided by a biotechnology group specializing in insect transformation. Based on analysis of these data, with particular focus on the more complete observational data from the biotechnology group, we designed a decision tool to aid researchers' decision-making when using piggyBac to transform insects by microinjection. A combination of statistical techniques was used to define appropriate summary statistics of piggyBac transformation efficiency by species and insect order. Publication bias was assessed by comparing the data sets. The bias was assessed using strategies co-opted from the medical literature. The work culminated in building the Goldilocks decision tool, a Markov-Chain Monte-Carlo simulation operated via a graphical interface and providing guidance on best practice for those seeking to transform insects using piggyBac.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Gregory
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Oxitec Ltd, Abingdon, UK
| | - L Alphey
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Oxitec Ltd, Abingdon, UK
- The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, Surrey, UK
| | | | - S M Shimeld
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Abstract
The piggyBac transposon was originally isolated from the cabbage looper moth, Trichoplusia ni, in the 1980s. Despite its early discovery and dissimilarity to the other DNA transposon families, the piggyBac transposon was not recognized as a member of a large transposon superfamily for a long time. Initially, the piggyBac transposon was thought to be a rare transposon. This view, however, has now been completely revised as a number of fully sequenced genomes have revealed the presence of piggyBac-like repetitive elements. The isolation of active copies of the piggyBac-like elements from several distinct species further supported this revision. This includes the first isolation of an active mammalian DNA transposon identified in the bat genome. To date, the piggyBac transposon has been deeply characterized and it represents a number of unique characteristics. In general, all members of the piggyBac superfamily use TTAA as their integration target sites. In addition, the piggyBac transposon shows precise excision, i.e., restoring the sequence to its preintegration state, and can transpose in a variety of organisms such as yeasts, malaria parasites, insects, mammals, and even in plants. Biochemical analysis of the chemical steps of transposition revealed that piggyBac does not require DNA synthesis during the actual transposition event. The broad host range has attracted researchers from many different fields, and the piggyBac transposon is currently the most widely used transposon system for genetic manipulations.
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Das Gupta M, Chan SKS, Monteiro A. Natural Loss of eyeless/Pax6 Expression in Eyes of Bicyclus anynana Adult Butterflies Likely Leads to Exponential Decrease of Eye Fluorescence in Transgenics. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0132882. [PMID: 26173066 PMCID: PMC4501736 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0132882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2015] [Accepted: 06/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Commonly used visible markers for transgenesis use fluorescent proteins expressed at the surface of the body, such as in eyes. One commonly used marker is the 3xP3-EGFP cassette containing synthetic binding sites for the eyeless/Pax6 conserved transcription factor. This marker cassette leads to fluorescent eyes in a variety of animals tested so far. Here we show that upon reaching adulthood, transgenic Bicyclus anynana butterflies containing this marker cassette exponentially loose fluorescence in their eyes. After 12 days, transgenic individuals are no longer distinguishable from wild type individuals. The decreased eye fluorescence is likely due to significantly decreased or halted eyeless/Pax6 expression observed in wild type animals upon adult emergence. Implications from these findings include care in screening transgenic animals before these reach adulthood, or shortly thereafter, and in using adult animals of the same age for quantitative screening of likely homozygote and heterozygote individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mainak Das Gupta
- Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Sam Kok Sim Chan
- Biological Sciences, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kampar, Perak, Malaysia
| | - Antónia Monteiro
- Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- Yale-NUS College, Singapore
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Hong JB, Chou FJ, Ku AT, Fan HH, Lee TL, Huang YH, Yang TL, Su IC, Yu IS, Lin SW, Chien CL, Ho HN, Chen YT. A nucleolus-predominant piggyBac transposase, NP-mPB, mediates elevated transposition efficiency in mammalian cells. PLoS One 2014; 9:e89396. [PMID: 24586748 PMCID: PMC3933532 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0089396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2013] [Accepted: 01/20/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
PiggyBac is a prevalent transposon system used to deliver transgenes and functionally explore the mammalian untouched genomic territory. The important features of piggyBac transposon are the relatively low insertion site preference and the ability of seamless removal from genome, which allow its potential uses in functional genomics and regenerative medicine. Efforts to increase its transposition efficiency in mammals were made through engineering the corresponding transposase (PBase) codon usage to enhance its expression level and through screening for mutant PBase variants with increased enzyme activity. To improve the safety for its potential use in regenerative medicine applications, site-specific transposition was achieved by using engineered zinc finger- and Gal4-fused PBases. An excision-prone PBase variant has also been successfully developed. Here we describe the construction of a nucleolus-predominant PBase, NP-mPB, by adding a nucleolus-predominant (NP) signal peptide from HIV-1 TAT protein to a mammalian codon-optimized PBase (mPB). Although there is a predominant fraction of the NP-mPB-tGFP fusion proteins concentrated in the nucleoli, an insertion site preference toward nucleolar organizer regions is not detected. Instead a 3–4 fold increase in piggyBac transposition efficiency is reproducibly observed in mouse and human cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Bon Hong
- Graduate Institute of Medical Genomics and Proteomics, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Dermatology, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Fu-Ju Chou
- Graduate Institute of Medical Genomics and Proteomics, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Amy T. Ku
- Graduate Institute of Medical Genomics and Proteomics, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsiang-Hsuan Fan
- Graduate Institute of Medical Genomics and Proteomics, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tung-Lung Lee
- Department of Dermatology, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yung-Hsin Huang
- Department of Dermatology, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tsung-Lin Yang
- Department of Otolaryngology, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
- Research Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - I-Chang Su
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - I-Shing Yu
- Transgenic Mouse Model Core Facility of the National Research Program for Genomic Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
- Laboratory Animal Center, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Wha Lin
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Liang Chien
- Graduate Institute of Medical Genomics and Proteomics, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
- Research Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Stem Cell Core Laboratory, National Taiwan University Center of Genomic Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hong-Nerng Ho
- Graduate Institute of Medical Genomics and Proteomics, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
- Research Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Stem Cell Core Laboratory, National Taiwan University Center of Genomic Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - You-Tzung Chen
- Graduate Institute of Medical Genomics and Proteomics, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
- Research Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
- Stem Cell Core Laboratory, National Taiwan University Center of Genomic Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Genome and Systems Biology Program, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- * E-mail:
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Warren IA, Gotoh H, Dworkin IM, Emlen DJ, Lavine LC. A general mechanism for conditional expression of exaggerated sexually-selected traits. Bioessays 2013; 35:889-99. [PMID: 23852854 DOI: 10.1002/bies.201300031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Sexually-selected exaggerated traits tend to be unusually reliable signals of individual condition, as their expression tends to be more sensitive to nutritional history and physiological circumstance than that of other phenotypes. As such, these traits are the foundation for many models of sexual selection and animal communication, such as "handicap" and "good genes" models. Exactly how expression of these traits is linked to the bearer's condition has been a central yet unresolved question, in part because the underlying physiological mechanisms regulating their development have remained largely unknown. Recent discoveries across animals as diverse as deer, beetles, and flies now implicate the widely conserved insulin-like signaling pathway, as a common physiological mechanism regulating condition-sensitive structures with extreme growth. This raises the exciting possibility that one highly conserved pathway may underlie the evolution of trait exaggeration in a multitude of sexually-selected signal traits across the animal kingdom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian A Warren
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, UK
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